Mesenchymal Stem Cells – VJRegenMed

CYP-001 in adults with steroid-resistant GvHD

Simon Ng — Tue, 03 May 2022 16:17:07 +0000

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have shown promising efficacy as a cell therapy. Ross Macdonald, PhD, Cynata Therapeutics, Melbourne, Australia, discusses results from a Phase I trial (NCT02923375) assessing CYP-001, a MSC-based cell therapy in patients with steroid resistant graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). For patients who progress from corticosteroids, treatment options remain poor and mortality remains high. CYP-001 resulted in a complete response in over half of the cohort and after a two year follow-up, a survival rate of over 50% was reported. This interview was conducted during Meeting on the Mediterranean 2022.

SCUlpTOR: CYP-004 in osteoarthritis

Simon Ng — Tue, 03 May 2022 16:17:06 +0000

Ross Macdonald, PhD, Cynata Therapeutics, Melbourne, Australia, discusses the Phase III SCUlpTOR trial (ACTRN12620000870954) assessing CYP-004, a novel mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs)-based cell therapy for patients with osteoarthritis. Whilst previous studies investigating autologous stem cell therapies have shown promise, there is an unmet need for curative therapies. The randomized double blind trial will assess the investigational therapy in 440 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. The interview was conducted during Meeting on the Mediterranean 2022.

Addressing challenges in using MSCs in cell therapies

Simon Ng — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:04:28 +0000

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated potential in cell therapies, as they have unique immunomodulatory properties. Ross Macdonald, PhD, Cynata Therapeutics, Melbourne, Australia, comments on the hurdles in commercializing MSC-based cell therapies. Unlike autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, MSCs are derived from allogeneic sources, which in itself presents logistical issues in terms of obtaining enough donors. Cell expansion for commercial usage additionally is an issue, as MSCs become less potent as they expand, and Dr Macdonald presents solutions offered by Cynata Therapeutics that attempt to overcome the aforementioned barriers. This interview was conducted during Meeting on the Mediterranean 2022.

Generating iSPC-derived MSCs with the Cymerus™ Platform

Simon Ng — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:04:27 +0000

Ross Macdonald, PhD, Cynata Therapeutics, Melbourne, Australia, discusses the process of manufacturing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with the Cymerus Platform. MSCs have shown encouraging efficacy as cell therapies and using iPSCs enables the MSCs to remain potent, as they do not require expansion. The iSPCs also do not require multiple donors as they can replicate indefinitely, resulting in MSCs of a consistent quality. This interview was conducted during Meeting on the Mediterranean 2022.

Addressing issues associated with bringing iSPC-derived MSCs to the clinic

Simon Ng — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 12:25:13 +0000

Tony Ting, PhD, Bone Therapeutics SA, Gosselies, Belgium, discusses challenges associated with developing cell therapies for clinical use. Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) remains a major barrier for many manufacturers, which lead to the creation of genetically engineered induced pluripotent stem cell-(iPSC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Dr Ting additionally highlights how genetically engineered therapies can overcome regulatory issues relating to potency assays. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

Enhancing the therapeutic capacity of MSCs

Simon Ng — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:59:08 +0000

Despite numerous clinical trials featuring mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies, only a select few have reached clinical approval. Tony Ting, PhD, Bone Therapeutics SA, Gosselies, Belgium, describes strategies to professionalize MSCs. Expansion culture and differentiation of MSCs to promote bone healing in the ALLOB platform will hopefully unleash the full potential of MSCs. Dr Ting additionally comments on genetic manipulation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to professionalize MSCs, where iSPC-derived MSCs will lead to therapies with a consistent quality. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

Evaluating the development of iSPC-derived MSCs

Simon Ng — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:59:05 +0000

Tony Ting, PhD, Bone Therapeutics SA, Gosselies, Belgium, provides an overview of the collaboration between Bone Therapeutics and Implant Therapeutics to research the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as well as develop genetically engineered iPSC-derived MSCs. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

Exploring stem cell-based therapies in osteoarthritis

Simon Ng — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 11:14:51 +0000

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic illness currently with no cure, and patients with OA often have comorbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Jiao Jiao Li, PhD, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, provides an overview of the influence on stem cells in osteoarthritis and how stem cell-based therapies have not been effective in OA. Research investigating the interactions between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and arthritic cells revealed that MSCs had a short-term effect on arthritic cells, but arthritic cells induced inflammatory markers in MSCs and prevented them from differentiating into cartilage tissue. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).

EV-based therapies for myocardial infarction

Simon Ng — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 13:01:32 +0000

Marta Monguió-Tortajada, PhD, Health Science Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain, comments on utilizing extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells to regenerate cardiac tissue after a myocardial infarction. EVs that were found to promote angiogenesis and reduce inflammation were identified and with a tissue-engineered scaffold, were delivered to scar tissue. After a period of 30 days, fibrosis was reduced and increased cardiac function was observed. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).

The benefits of extracellular vesicle-based therapies

Simon Ng — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 13:01:30 +0000

Marta Monguió-Tortajada, PhD, Health Science Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain, discusses the advantages of using extracellular vesicles (EVs) in tissue-engineered therapies. EVs tend to require less stringent storage conditions and as they are not live, they are more stable compared to cellular therapies. They can also be formulated into a slow-release dosage, resulting in a lower dose required for administration, and in vivo models have demonstrated mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs have an acceptable safety profile. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).